Our Hardcore, Fabulously Famous Lineage of Trans Femme Rockstars

News that Laura Jane Grace Gabel, leader of Florida punk band Against Me!, identifies as trans dropped today in advance of an article featuring Gabel that will run in the latest Rolling Stone out Friday, May 11.

“I’m going to have embarrassing moments,” said Gabel to Rolling Stone, of coming out. “And that won’t be fun. But that’s part of what talking to (the magazine) is about – is hoping people will understand, and hoping they’ll be fairly kind.”

Gabel’s gender identity has been alluded to in the lyrics of Against Me!’s song “The Ocean,” says Pitchfork.

“And if I could have chosen,/ I would have been born a woman,/ My mother once told me she would have named me Laura,/ I’d grow up to be strong and beautiful like her.”

Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida.Their first full-length album, released on No Idea Records in 2002, was Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose. They have released music on Misanthrope Records, Crasshole Records, Plan It X Records, Sabot Productions, No Idea Records, and Fat Wreck Chords. In December 2005, they signed with Sire Records, and released their major label debut,New Wave on July 10, 2007. Their second album on Sire, White Crosses, was released on June 4, 2010.

For more on Gabel’s life and work, get the full story from Rolling Stone on Friday. And Fortunately for us, she is part of a long line of hardcore, fabulously famous musicians who “came out” as trans in the limelight. Below is a short list of our favorites.

Jayne Countyis an American performer, musician and actress…and according to her website is known as “rock’s first transgender singer.” Though she has never been a commercial success, she has been an influence on musicians such as David Bowie, The Ramones, Patti Smith and Lou Reed.

Jayne Country pictured here (right, standing) with Patti Smith (left)

Mina Caputois the lead singer and a founding member of the New York heavy metal band Life of Agony.

Barbara Amesburyher biggest hit was “Virginia (Touch Me Like You Do)”, “Can You Feel It” was also a minor hit in 1976. Amesbury’s “Nothin’ But a Fool” has been covered by Natalie Cole, and “A Thrill’s a Thrill” has been covered numerous artists including Marianne Faithfull and John Cougar.

Barbara Amsbury

Stella Nova an English guitarist and singer, known for her work with a number of punk and new wave bands in the late 1970s and early 1980s including Rich Kids with former Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock.

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Wild Gender is an online magazine and creative hub born out of gratitude for the gift of full expression. We are dedicated to creative practices that celebrate gender fluidity, identity and expression. Wild Gender prioritizes visual art, creative writing, and journalistic work by trans/gender-variant individuals who have never before been published in a public venue. Run entirely by volunteers,we are always in search of writers, thinkers, and creators hoping to participate in our growing community.

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